World trade is beginning to pick up. But the turnaround seems to be tentative unless we make a concerted effort to export or import more.

In the U.S., the Commerce Department said Friday that the dollar value of exports, which surged in July, rose another 0.2% in August. That put exports at their highest level since December, but still 21% below year-ago levels. Lower oil imports reduced imports by 0.6%, narrowing the trade deficit to $30.7 billion after four months of widening.

Read more at "Trade Upturn Hints at a Recovery."

And check out the World Economic Outlook (October 2009) or IMF Data Mapper here.

Illustration: IMF World Economic Outlook (WSJ)

Data recently released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals that while other regions of the world are experiencing economic decline, Africa has experienced significant economic growth over the past five years and is expected to maintain a positive growth rate of 3.5% for 2009.

To advance trade and investment flows between the U.S. and Africa, Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) -- a nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa -- is gearing up to host its 7th Biennial U.S. – Africa Business Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from September 29 – October 1, 2009, to which senior U.S. officials, including President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have been invited.  President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda will be attending.

Entrepreneurship will be the hot topic at the Summit, throughout various sectors such as infrastructure, natural resources, agribusiness, financing, power, health and tourism.  The event is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants, bringing together U.S. and African heads of state, cabinet ministers, Fortune 500 CEO’s, and heads of international organizations. Participants will have the opportunity to attend more than 50 industry-specific sessions and workshops.

Go here to register and get involved.

Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to emerge from the financial crisis earlier than the advanced economies, according to the latest Regional Economic Outlook: Western Hemisphere report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Expect growth the second part of 2009. While growth in advanced economies may not turn positive until the middle of 2010.

Read more here.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that the world is in the grips of a deepening recession. I look at it that we are in the grips of a world of opportunity. We just have to work smart at finding it.

Read more here.

Separately, I was a part of a vibrant panel discussion on global business early yesterday morning for Crain's Chicago Business. I met so many interesting people and I just want to say, "thank you" to all who came up to me after the talk to say nice things. One attendee, a trained psychologist who specializes in family business said, "One of your statements really resonated with me." And I quickly asked, "Oh, you mean the one about 'begin with the end in mind?'" He said, "No, the one where you declared 'make it very hard for people on the Internet not to find you." To him and everyone else who attended, I say, "nice to meet you and thank you for listening!"

According to Simeon Djankov (pictured), Chief Economist at the World Bank Group's Crisis Talk blog, of all the possible things the G20 Summit leaders could have done, this one would ease the crisis the most: a commitment to triple the amount of money the IMF has for lending to $750 billion.

The G20 has also committed about $250 billion to boost global trade.

See why Djankov thinks the IMF lending notion (there are doubts about the global trade boost) is a good idea here.